Antenna window and antenna pattern for electronic devices and methods of manufacturing the same

Abstract

A housing for an electronic device, including an aluminum layer enclosing a volume that includes a radio-frequency (RF) antenna is provided. The housing includes a window aligned with the RF antenna; the window including a non-conductive material filling a cavity in the aluminum layer; and a thin aluminum oxide layer adjacent to the aluminum layer and to the non-conductive material; wherein the non-conductive material and the thin aluminum oxide layer form an RF-transparent path through the window. A housing for an electronic device including an integrated RF-antenna is also provided. A method of manufacturing a housing for an electronic device as described above is provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A housing for an electronic device, comprising:
 an aluminum layer enclosing a volume that includes a radio-frequency (RF) antenna, the aluminum layer having a window aligned with the RF antenna, the window comprising: 
 a non-conductive material filling a gap in the aluminum layer; and 
 a thin aluminum oxide layer adjacent to the aluminum layer and to the non-conductive material, wherein the non-conductive material and the thin aluminum oxide layer form a RF-transparent path to allow transmission of substantially all RF radiation through the window. 
 
     
     
       2. The housing of  claim 1 , wherein the non-conductive material comprises aluminum oxide. 
     
     
       3. The housing of  claim 1 , wherein the non-conductive material comprises one of the group consisting of a plastic, a thermosetting polymer, a ceramic material, and a glass. 
     
     
       4. The housing of  claim 1 , wherein the RF antenna extends around a display cover, the display cover positioned within a portion of the housing. 
     
     
       5. The housing of  claim 1 , wherein the RF antenna is positioned within the RF transparent path. 
     
     
       6. The housing of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the aluminum layer is anodized to form an aluminum oxide layer. 
     
     
       7. The housing of  claim 6 , wherein the aluminum oxide layer is less than 50 microns. 
     
     
       8. The housing of  claim 7 , wherein the aluminum layer includes a plurality of perforations that are at least partially filled by another material. 
     
     
       9. A housing for an electronic device, comprising:
 an aluminum layer enclosing a plurality of electronic circuits; 
 an oxide layer on an exterior surface of the aluminum layer; and 
 one or more radio-frequency (RF) antennas, wherein each of the one or more RF antennas comprises:
 an electrically conductive path including a first segment and a second segment, wherein at least one of the first segment and the second segment is part of the aluminum layer; 
 a non-conductive material adjacent to the conductive path, the non-conductive material electrically insulating the first segment of the electrically conductive path from the second segment of the electrically conductive path; and 
 an RF-transparent layer adjacent to the aluminum layer and to the electrically conductive path. 
 
 
     
     
       10. The housing of  claim 9 , wherein the non-conductive material comprises aluminum oxide. 
     
     
       11. The housing of  claim 9 , wherein the non-conductive material comprises one of the group consisting of a plastic, a thermosetting polymer, a ceramic material, and a glass. 
     
     
       12. The housing of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more RF antennas extends around a display cover, the display cover positioned within a portion of the housing. 
     
     
       13. The housing of  claim 9 , wherein the electrically conductive path is positioned within the non-conductive material. 
     
     
       14. The housing of  claim 9 , wherein a portion of the aluminum layer is anodized to form an aluminum oxide layer. 
     
     
       15. The housing of  claim 14 , wherein the aluminum oxide layer is less than 50 microns. 
     
     
       16. The housing of  claim 15 , wherein the aluminum layer includes a plurality of perforations that are at least partially filled by another material. 
     
     
       17. The housing of  claim 1 , wherein the aluminum oxide layer covers both an outer surface of the aluminum layer and an outer surface of the non-conductive material. 
     
     
       18. The housing of  claim 14 , wherein the aluminum oxide layer comprises a continuous layer across the aluminum layer and the non-conductive material. 
     
     
       19. The housing of  claim 1 , wherein the gap in the aluminum layer extends through the entire thickness of the aluminum layer. 
     
     
       20. The housing of  claim 8 , wherein one or more of the plurality of perforations provides an RF transparent path for the RF antenna.